The document outlines developmental indicators and strategies for supporting infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in achieving attentiveness, initiative, and persistence. It highlights the variations in children's attention spans influenced by factors like temperament and culture, and suggests age-appropriate strategies for fostering these skills through engaging materials and uninterrupted play. The recommendations underscore the importance of encouraging process over product and facilitating social interactions among children.

1. Attentiveness, Effort, and
Persistence
North Carolina Foundations Task Force. (2013). North Carolina
foundations for early learning and development. Raleigh: Author.

2. Attentiveness, Effort, and Persistence 2
• Pp. 41 – 46 describe Developmental Indicators and Strategies for
working with infants, toddlers and preschoolers for the following
goals:
• Goal APL-7: Children demonstrate initiative
• Goal APL-8: Children maintain attentiveness and focus
• Goal APL-9: Children persist at challenging activities

3. Variations in Initiative and Attention Span
• Children vary in their initiative by such factors as
• Temperament
• Personality
• Family differences
• Cultural differences
• Children are known for having short attention spans
• Attention span generally increases with age
• Children can switch their attention back and forth
• Children may not appear to be paying attention when they are in actuality
• While it is appropriate to practice and encourage longer focus and attention,
20-30 minute group times are not appropriate!

4. Strategies for Infants and Toddlers
• Provide a variety of interesting materials
• Provide different and safe interest areas so children can explore
uninterrupted
• Plan and prepare for smooth transitions with routines and warnings
• Provide challenging materials for various ability levels and encourage
children to try again or differently
• Add new items to indoor and outdoor environments
• Allow children to use materials as they wish, unless it does not help
their development (i.e. children with disabilities using materials for
self-stimulating behaviors)

5. Strategies for Preschoolers
• Provide plenty of time for children to play without interruption
• Allow for projects to extend over several days
• Provide communication support for children top express ideas or
extend an activity
• Adjust help as needed
• Use extended discourse and open-ended questions to help children
stay focused
• Encourage effort (process) rather than results (product)
• Encourage social interactions of team effort and problem-solving